Method or preparing cereal-food products.



PATENTED FBB.,10, 1903.

y J. D. DSPDY. l METHOD OF DRDPARINO. ODRDAL FOOD PRODUCTS.

APP-LIOTION FILED FEB. 13. 1902.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAH B. ESPEY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

METHOD OF PREPARING CEREL-FOOD PRODUCTS.

SPECIFICATION forming partici' Letters Patent No. 720,122, datedFebruary 10, 1903.

Application filed February 13, 1902. Serial No. 93.961. (No specimens.)

To a/ZZ whom it 11m/y concern:

Be it known that I, JosIAH B. EsPEY, acitizen of the United States,residing at Springiield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio,(post-cnice address 222 West Main street,) have invented an ImprovedMethod of Preparing Cereal-Food Products, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to a new method of preparing food products,especially to food products produced from cereal grains, whereby cookingof the product in its preparation is rendered unnecessary.

The object of the invention is to provide a method of preparing foodproducts free from allimpurities and germs and of such form that itmaybe conveniently packed for shipping and be prevented fromdeteriorating under varying climatic conditions.

My peculiar food product is the result of treating any of the Well-knowncereal grains, as oats, rye, wheat, corn, dac., in a manner hereinafterdescribed.

In order that the various steps necessary to Like parts are representedby similar let-A ters of reference th roughout the several views.

In the drawings, A A represent the'walls of a building devoted to theproduction of my improved articles of food. A

ct is a grain bin or garner to which the grain is conveyed through aspout a from the grainelevator. ducted to a vat b, where it is treatedwith a bath of-non-poisonous germicidal purifying solution, preferablyconsisting of an alkaline bath containing a small amount of formaldehydeor a weak solution of formaldehyde alone. This solution removes theimpurities, kills all ani'malcules, germs, dac. In order that the grainmay be thoroughly and evenly treated, stirring arms or blades b areprovided. These blades are adapted to be driven in opposite directions,as indicated by the ar- From this bin a the grain is con-` rows.solution is withdrawn through the pipe b2, and the grain, cleansed ofall impurities and minute organisms, is discharged into the bin orreservoir a2. Y From here it is fed to a huller c. This huller consistsof a bed-plate c', above which, but not in contact therewith, is arevolving plate c2, having a central opening surrounded by a hopper c3.The upper side of the plate czis provided with a series of radial armsc4. As the grain is fed into the hopper c3 sufcient liquid is admittedthrough the pipe c5 to loosen the hull or bran, and the Weight of themixture in the hopper Will cause it to pass between the revolving platec2 and the bed-plate c', where it will be rubbed sufficiently toseparate the hull from the edible portion of the grain, but not to mashor crush the grains. After the mixture has passed between these platesthe overflow of liquid is allowed to pass o through the pipe c6 and thegrain is discharged through the .spout c7 into the vate by the action ofthe radial arms c4, which revolve,`as indicated by the arrow in Fig-2.In the vat c the grain is thoroughly washed in pure water, a constantstream of which Hows from the pipe e. During the washing of the grain itis agitated by thestirring-armsc2. The freeportionsofhull, 85e., beingthe lighter part, float to the top and are carried off by the overiiowthrough the spout e3. The Water being drained from the vat by the pipee4, the grain is discharged into the reservoir as.

If desired, the grain may be conveyed direct from the vat b to the vat eby the conduit fwithout passing through the huller c.

From the reservoir d? the grain is fed to a cooking-receptacleg, inwhich itis thoroughly cooked by steam from4 lthe perforated pipes Othermethods of cooking might be employed; but steam is preferred, becausewhile it thoroughly cooks the material it also leaves the individualgrains practically intact or whole.

By washing the grain and then cooking it after being treated to thegermicide all of the latter left remaining in the grain is destroyed.

In order that the grain may not bridge and choke the cooker, anagitating-wheel g2 is provided.

After the treatment of the grain the l IOC From the cooker g the grainpasses to a drier h, which consists of a series of overlying inclinescreens hf. These screens h are supported on suitable rollers ou thesides of the drier, and each screen is connected to a vertical shaft h3by a link h4 and an eccentric h5, by which the said screens are given aVibratory movement, causing the grain to travel from screen to screen. Acurrent of heated air is forced through the drier by the fan t'. Thegrain falls from the lowest screen of the series to a conveyer t", byWhich it is carried to a suitable mill, as indicated atj. The resultingproduct will Vary in form and taste in accordance with the degree offineness to which it is ground by the millj and the cereal from which itis produced; but whatever the texture of the productor the grain fromwhich it is made the essential features will be the same, the resultbeing a food product of a wholesome, palatable, and nutritious nature,free from all injurious impurities, easily prepared at a great saving oftime, fuel, and trouble. It is a food product of great value to personslimited in time and facilities for cooking.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 'lhe method of preparingthe cereal-food product herein described, which consists in treating thegrain to a bath containing formaldehyde and thoroughly agitating thesame while so treated, subjecting the grain to a rubbing action toremove the hulls and oating oi the hulls, washing the hulled grain,cooking the whole hulled grain in a thorough manner so that theindividual grains will be left practically intact or whole and so thatany of the bath solution that may be left remaining in the grain afterthe washing operation Will be eliminated or destroyed, drying the hulledand cooked grain, and then grinding the grain to a suitable degree offineness, substantially as set forth.

JOSIAI-I Bl ESPEY.

Witnesses:

M. E. REED, H. D. LUTZ.

